Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) is calling out the state’s Democrats – minus a few exceptions – for pushing through a bill that outlaws millions of guns and accessories that were legally owned in the state. 

ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson shared his distaste over the bill and its passage. 

“As irked as I am at the General Assembly, I want you to know that there are some of these members who stood up to the pressure and voted “No” on HB5471," Pearson wrote in an email. "We have pictures of the tote board on our website. They are the ones in red. This includes both Democrats and Republicans. They were true to their oath of office and their pledge to uphold the Constitution of the United States." 

Pearson highlighted "two standouts among the Democrats were Senators Doris Tuner and Patrick Joyce. Remember who those people are. When the sun came up over Illinois on Wednesday morning, everything looked the same as it did on Tuesday morning, but it was not the same,” he said. “Governor Pritzker had signed into law a draconian bill that squashes the rights of 2.4 million-plus law-abiding firearm owners in Illinois."

"The boot heel of government has been placed squarely on the neck of freedom loving Illinois citizens," Pearson said. "The rights of people who have done nothing wrong have been trampled,” and within 300 days, gun owners need to comply with the law. "The clock is ticking as the law-abiding gun owners come ever closer to being criminals. Each day our freedom is being diminished."

“This Illinois State Rifle Association, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the Firearm Policy Coalition have partnered to sue the State of Illinois," Pearson said. "The goal is to declare this disgusting law that has been precipitated on lawful gun owners of Illinois unconstitutional.  All of this, of course, takes money and membership. Please join the ISRA and donate to the Legal Assistance Committee (ISRA-LAC). We will fight and do whatever it takes.” 

Various county sheriffs, according to Pearson, have been educating "the citizens of their county that HB5471 is a violation of their constitutional rights and that they will not be enforcing the law solely for noncompliance with this act. The Illinois State Police can’t take a stand like the sheriffs because they work for the governor.”

The bill was passed through the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. It became effective on Jan. 10. The act demands the Illinois State Police lead the effort to register guns and magazines in the state. “(g) The Illinois State Police shall take all steps necessary to carry out the requirements of this Section within by October 1, 2023,” the public act reads. "(h) The Department of the State Police shall also develop and implement a public notice and public outreach campaign to promote awareness about the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly and to increase compliance with this Section.”

The Protect Illinois Communities Act outlaws several commonly owned types of firearms and magazines. As many as five million firearms and 10 million magazines in the state may be affected. Gun rights advocates long vowed to seek legal relief should the bill pass, Chicago City Wire reported.

In his last few days in the Illinois General Assembly, former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey said he will not comply with the state’s new law banning over 100 common types of firearms. The sweeping gun control law also creates a registry by which law-abiding Illinoisans are required to register their guns. 

“I and millions of other gun owners in this state will not comply," Bailey said on the Senate floor, according to WGN9. You’ve got to know that the actions that you’re taking right now are tyrannous."